2018 Kistler Vineyards Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 750 ml

Kistler has set the bar for California for four decades, and our members have been clamoring for their elegant, ruby wines ever since the earliest Wine Access emails went out. So it’s no surprise that our first-ever Kistler offer sold out immediately—and that every review that has rolled in has been a chart-topper. 

The 2018 Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir beautifully adds to the winery’s reputation, with its grand, precise mouthfeel and symphony of red fruit flavors. This deep-ruby masterpiece is served by the glass at The French Laundry, and hoarded by collectors worldwide. 

Opening and enjoying a bottle of Kistler is an elegant experience, from the moment you bring the immediately recognizable bottle—with its label that recalls the Grands Crus of the Côte d'Or—to the table.

That’s because Kistler is different. While many wineries select many grape clones like they do yeast strains or barrels, Kistler works with just two Pinot clones. Both bring the characteristics that Kistler reveres—low yields, small berries, great concentration, and natural acidity—and produce gorgeous, site-transparent wines.

Kistler sources fruit from some of the top growers in California, working closely with their vineyard partners (their most recent relationship began in the mid-90s) by planting their own vines and farming them themselves. Finally, they complete their harvest in the cool of night, when the fruit is at its freshest and brightest.

Take a look in Kistler’s cellar, and you won’t see a barrel out of place by even a quarter of an inch. It’s a precision that sets the tone for everything that happens at the winery. The Pinot Noir is watched 24 hours a day, and ushered with a very light touch into stainless steel tanks, through the cool fermentation, and finally into the barrels. 

Every ounce of juice that makes its way into Kistler Pinots like this ethereal 2018 comes from free-run juice, meaning there is no harsh pressing of the grapes. This choice reduces yields, but ensures that only the most delicate, aromatic, and balanced wine makes it into the finished bottles.

Today, we’re happy to bring this iconic bottling to your table, straight from the Kistler cellars.